Guatemala Vacation
The nation of Guatemala is so beautiful, which makes it tempting to want to see everything the country has to offer during your Guatemala vacation. This is possible, but maybe not in the span of a single trip. Guess you'll have to visit the country more than once! In the meantime, you can visit three to four destinations in a 7-10 day period, and have an entirely different experience in each of them. Whether you're looking to play in nature in Panajachel or want to explore the country's cultural dimensions in Quetzaltenango, you're guaranteed to find something you like on this list of destinations.
Guatemala is big and has a varied landscape that includes the mountains of Sololá, volcanoes in Santa Cruz La Laguna, the jungles of Baja Verapaz, the famous Lake Atitlán, and the beaches of Lívingston. This is nice for you, because this impressive variety is sure to keep you from getting bored during your vacation in Guatemala. Although, you have to search for boredom in here. One minute, you're trekking through Tikal, the next, you're dining in Antigua. When you find yourself in the great outdoors, you can go mountain biking, birdwatching, explore ruins, shop, fish...the list goes on.
The following destinations are arranged into categories that will help you decide where to go. You decide how much fun you'll have (Spoiler Alert it's bound to be a lot)!
Domestic Flights in Guatemala
At present, domestic flights within Guatemala are fairly limited. The only regularly scheduled flights travel between Guatemala City and Flores, with a flight time of about 45 minutes. There are, however, ongoing improvements to many airports around the country – including those at Quetzaltenango, Huehuetenango, Retalhuleu, and Puerto San José – and it’s hoped that there will be a good network of local flights in the coming years.
Flores and Santa Elena
The twin towns of Flores and Santa Elena, which are often collectively referred to simply as “Flores,” are set within the heart of Petén. Flores is actually a small island in Lake Petén Itzá that’s connected to Santa Elena, on the mainland, by a causeway. With its pastel houses and genteel atmosphere, Flores is very pleasant.
Guatemala City
Guatemala City is often a traveler’s first glimpse of Guatemala. As your plane descends over the capital, you witness the largest city in Central America unfold—a sprawling, colorful metropolis that spreads into a valley ringed by forested mountains and volcanoes. It’s a big and powerful place that is home to around four million people.